I hope your week is going well. Here’s your Thursday story challenge:
Can you tell a story in 35 words using the following words in it somewhere:
- LAKE
- COUPON
- PUPPET
- TUBA
Last week’s challenge was to write a story in 51 words using the following three words in it somewhere:
- ROADWORKS
- MILLIPEDE
- BEER
- WI-FI
- TAROT
- SCARF
Here are your fantastic stories:
The millipede scurried past roadworks, dodging cones like a drunken soul seeking beer. A stranger in a scarf read tarot cards by flickering lamplight, promising lost WI-FI would soon return. Asphalt fumes curled heavy, but destiny whispered: every detour, even through tar and wires, might reveal the path.
I was in the pub trying to get the football result but the WI-FI wouldn’t work. Felt an idiot sitting with my Charlton scarf. Couldn’t hear with the roadworks. Some woman read my tarot and said they’d win. They lost 4-0. I was so drunk even a millipede would’ve been legless.
Nicola Daly:
‘This country’s going to the dogs – WI-FI’s down, can’t afford to buy a beer, and a millipede could get through these roadworks faster,’ he grumbled.
‘Never mind, dear,’ she said, tying his wrists to the steering wheel with a scarf. ‘Don’t move. I’ll be right back with the tarot cards.’
‘Nooooooooooo.’
“Sorry I’m late: roadworks on the bypass.”
“You’re a millipede, you only came from the garden.”
“Oh. Right. Is the WI-FI on?”
“No. The wasps chewed through it after too many beers.”
“Typical! Didn’t need a tarot to see that happening.”
“Right. Hang your scarf on the hook.”
“And my boots—?”
Fortune’s Fall
Milli, the millipede adjusted her scarf, her legs clicking toward O’ Malley’s.
Finally, decent WI-FI to share her tarot reading; The Fool reversed, warning against recklessness. She ordered a beer, tweeting, “reckless, HA,” She scoffed.”
Outside, dodging roadworks barriers in excitement, she plummeted into an unmarked hole.
The Fool, indeed.
The scheduled roadworks was postponed due to the discovery of rare millipedes at the site.
It was the talk of the pub as patrons supped their beer in front of the huge WI-FI screen running the story.
The fortune teller adjusted her scarf and smiling, turned over the next tarot card.
Murray Clarke:
Millie, the millipede, hadn’t seen her sister for ages. After checking her trusty tarot cards, she set off. Unfortunately, on the A666, she hit some bad roadworks, lost WI-FI, and the satnav malfunctioned. Finally, Millie arrived, gave her sister the scarf she’d knitted, and together they enjoyed a couple of beers.
Jeff was having a beer and trying to get his WI-FI to work, when a millipede slowly walked on the chair rail next to him. Adjusting his scarf, he rose and started walking to his tarot card reading. The roadworks blocked one alley, but he found the next street clear.
Beer and wine make everyone whine if enough is drank. As the buzz started to wane a millipede wearing a scarf and reading tarot cards appeared near a WI-FI hot spot. After talking to him I hired him to design the roadworks plans for the new city being built next month
The roadworks blocked traffic so I walked into a tavern with no WI-FI and ordered a beer. A millipede crawled across the bar in front of me. In the corner I saw a tarot reader wearing a bright red scarf. She waved me over and whispered, “Delays aren’t accidents, they’re invitations.”
Looking over my Tarot cards and a map trying to figure out the latest city roadworks project, I discovered a millipede taking a walk on the map. I was forced to scarf my beer and connect to WI-FI to report that the millipede has discovered a better way into town.
He Made The Right Choice
Humphry Hemmel, Roadworks Supervisor, was all about style. He wore a lime green ascot or a fancy scarf. As he was leaving he glanced at his Tarot deck. Two cards were ominous, one Death the other a Milipede. Just then his WI-FI cut out, so he stayed home & drank beer.
Oh no, the Wi-Fi is playing up!
My hubby bought a scarf instead of a scart cable for the TV and I can’t order the right thing. He also changed the password to millipede, it was tarot one . He can drive through the roadworks while I have a beer or three!
Road to Nowhere
A millipede, wrapped in a cosy scarf, was trying to cross the road during some intense roadworks. A massive truck whooshed past. Shocked, he dived into a pub for a beer and free WI-FI. Checking the tarot cards, he sighed, ‘The road to success is paved in tar…’ What a bummer!
Behind the Wheel
Melancholy, Millicent was more creative than the average millipede, after a beer or two, that is. Her WI-FI inspired energy would go in and out with the weather but as soon as she felt that spark, she would scarf down food and get back to work on her roadworks tarot deck.
Linking People 2003:
A unique parrot wearing a scarf and his millipede pet walked down a road. Unexpected roadworks swayed their way into a cafe. A soothsayer read a tarot card that the parrot would find WI-FI and beer there. Parrot was happy, sipping his beer and sharing snacks with his millipede friend.
The millipede crossed the street to the roadworks building. He knew the guys were having beer and spilled. The crew gathered to use the WI-FI and he enjoyed listening to the tarot readings alot. He found the long scarf and climbed up it til he reached the counter and the beer.
I pulled up my scarf as I walked down millipede alley, since roadworks were blocking my usual route. I entered my favourite retro WI-FI cafe, “I’ll have a root beer float.”
Gees magees, I knew I didn’t need a tarot to know roadworks would be going on for a long time.
Stopping at the Millipede Pub for a beer and tarot reading put her behind schedule. She zoomed down the country road, top down, scarf flying behind like a windsock. The last thing she remembered, after checking the WI-FI screen on the dash, was a DETOUR – ROADWORKS sign, and someone screaming, “STOP!”
Rall:
The guys sat by the roadworks wearing scarves drinking beer on their break. No WI-FI working out here so no phones or internet. They had forgotten how to converse. Fortunately one of them had a pack of tarot cards so apart from the millipede crawling up his leg they had something to talk about.
The Tarot reader dealt the cards on her silk scarf. She turned up The Tower. “You will experience upheaval.”
The next day, Roadworks tore up the street in front of our house. We were stuck. Nothing to do but drink beer, use the WI-FI, and watch them proceed at millipede pace.
Video Zombie Apocalypse
Home from work, I discovered my family had turned into zombies! Harry was playing Atari Millipede, Janice was into Tarot Realms on her PC, Ben’s game was Roadworks Simulator, and my wife was watching scarf-knitting videos on YouTube. No wonder I can’t get WI-FI service when I want to play Beercade!
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Esther Chilton 
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